New government grant will boost graduate recruitment

A teaching charity has been awarded a new government grant which could double graduate recruitment in certain schools.

Teach First, an organisation which places university leavers in challenging schools, will be able to offer roles in primary schools for the first time following the £4 million grant.

Around 560 candidates entered the scheme this summer, but the extra funds could mean over 1,000 positions will be available within the next four years.

Brett Wigdortz, chief executive of Teach First, claimed the new funding will help place graduates in a third of England's most challenging schools.

He said: "We are very excited that this new support from the government will enable us to extend our reach to every region of England over time, and to begin placing our highly-motivated and qualified teachers for the first time in those primary schools who need them most in areas of highest deprivation."

The extra money will help expand the Teach On programme, which aims to accelerate the career progression of graduates.

Once they reach senior level, graduates become known as ambassadors who work to turnaround failing schools.

Teach first was launched in 2002, with applicant numbers increasing every year and ambassador figures hitting 1200.